What fate will befall “Downton Abbey” characters like Edith, Mary, Thomas, Anna and the rest of the occupants of the beloved series’ unforgettable landscape? Viewers can find out on the series final episode, airing Sunday, March 6 at 9/8 pm on KET and Wednesday, March 9 at 9/8 pm on KET2.

A runaway hit when it premiered in 2011, Masterpiece “Downton Abbey” has seen its audience grows at a phenomenal rate, more than doubling by Season 5, which reached 25.5 million viewers. The series is the top-rated PBS drama of all time.

Having earned no fewer than 51 Emmy nominations, 11 Emmys, three Golden Globes, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Producers Guild Award and three BAFTAs, “Downton Abbey” is one of the most honored series in the history of television.

The award-winning series’ must-see conclusion will air as part of KET’s upcoming TeleFund 2016, to be held March 5-20.

And, while “Downton Abbey” comes to a bittersweet end, fans will have a chance to celebrate their love of the series one last time – at KET’s annual Fabby Abbey Ball on Saturday, April 16 at Lexington’s Spindletop Hall. Viewers who support KET during TeleFund by calling 1-800-866-0366 or online at KET.org/donate can request tickets to the Fabby Abbey event.

Explaining the difficult decision to cue the series’ final curtain, executive producer Gareth Neame said, “We wanted to close the doors of “Downton Abbey” when it felt right and natural for the storylines to come together, and when the show was still being enjoyed so much by its fans. We can promise a final season full of all the usual drama and intrigue, but with the added excitement of discovering how and where they all end up.”

Making their poignant “Downton Abbey” farewell are members of the critically acclaimed ensemble cast, including Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Joanne Froggatt, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan, Laura Carmichael, Brendan Coyle, Lesley Nicol, Sophie McShera, Robert James-Collier, Allen Leech, Kevin Doyle, Samantha Bond, David Robb, Raquel Cassidy and Michael Fox.

Masterpiece “Downton Abbey” is a Carnival Films/MASTERPIECE Co-Production, written and created by Julian Fellowes.

KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, serving more than one million people each week via television, online and mobile. Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization on Twitter @KET and facebook.com/KET and at KET.org.

Contact:

Todd Piccirilli
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
859-258-7242
tpiccirilli@ket.org